Desalination systems, apparatus, and related methods for use with saline fluids

Abstract

Desalination systems, apparatus, and related methods for use with saline fluids are disclosed. A disclosed desalination system includes an HDH system including a humidifier and a dehumidifier that, together, are configured to process a first saline fluid to produce freshwater in the dehumidifier. The desalination system also includes an AD system operatively coupled to the HDH system. The AD system includes a first bed, a second bed, an evaporator, and a condenser that, together, are configured to process a second saline fluid to produce freshwater in the condenser. The condenser is configured to transfer heat exhausted by the first or second bed from a vapor, obtained from the second saline fluid, to air circulating through the humidifier and the dehumidifier to drive the HDH system. The evaporator is configured to provide a cooling effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A desalination system, comprising:
 a humidification-dehumidification (HDH) system including a humidifier and a dehumidifier that, together, are configured to process a first saline fluid to produce freshwater in the dehumidifier; and 
 an adsorption desalination (AD) system operatively coupled to the HDH system, the AD system including a first bed, a second bed, an evaporator, and a condenser that, together, are configured to process a second saline fluid to produce freshwater in the condenser, 
 wherein: 
 the condenser is configured to transfer heat exhausted by the first or second bed from a vapor, obtained from the second saline fluid, to air circulating through the humidifier and the dehumidifier to drive the HDH system, and 
 the evaporator is configured to provide a cooling effect to a refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       2. The desalination system of  claim 1 , further including a single heating source configured for use with both the HDH system and the AD system. 
     
     
       3. The desalination system of  claim 1 , wherein the HDH system and the AD system provide a gained output ratio of about 7.6 or more during operation of the desalination system. 
     
     
       4. The desalination system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first and second beds is fluidly coupled between the evaporator and the condenser, and 
 the evaporator is fluidly coupled to the humidifier and configured to receive the second saline fluid from the humidifier. 
 
     
     
       5. The desalination system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the evaporator is fluidly coupled to the dehumidifier, and 
 the evaporator is configured to cool, via the second saline fluid, the first saline fluid before the first saline fluid is conveyed from the evaporator to the dehumidifier. 
 
     
     
       6. The desalination system of  claim 4 , wherein the evaporator is configured to cool, via the second saline fluid, the refrigerant. 
     
     
       7. The desalination system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first bed is fluidly coupled to the dehumidifier, and 
 the first saline fluid cools the first bed when the first saline fluid is conveyed through the first bed from a fluid source to the dehumidifier. 
 
     
     
       8. The desalination system of  claim 4 , further including a throttling device operatively interposed between the humidifier and the evaporator, the throttling device configured to adjust one or more fluid parameters associated with the second saline fluid when the second saline fluid passes across the throttling device. 
     
     
       9. The desalination system of  claim 4 , wherein the AD system further includes:
 a first valve operatively interposed between the first bed and the evaporator; 
 a second valve operatively interposed between the first bed and the condenser; 
 a third valve operatively interposed between the second bed and the evaporator; 
 a fourth valve operatively interposed between the second bed and the condenser; and 
 a controller configured to control, via one or more valve actuators, the first, second, third, and fourth valves to synchronize (a) first adsorption and desorption processes associated with the first bed and (b) second adsorption and desorption processes associated with the second bed. 
 
     
     
       10. The desalination system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second beds alternate exhausting the heat for the condenser during operation of the desalination system. 
     
     
       11. The desalination system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the second valve is configured to control a flow of the vapor from the first bed to the condenser based on a position of the second valve, and 
 the fourth valve is configured to control a flow of the vapor from the second bed to the condenser based on a position of the fourth valve. 
 
     
     
       12. The desalination system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dehumidifier is fluidly coupled between the humidifier and a saline fluid source associated with supplying the first saline fluid, and 
 the first saline fluid is conveyable through the dehumidifier from the fluid source to the humidifier. 
 
     
     
       13. The desalination system of  claim 12 , wherein the humidifier includes one or more nozzles operatively coupled thereto, the one or more nozzles configured to receive the first saline fluid from the dehumidifier and spray the first saline fluid in the humidifier. 
     
     
       14. The desalination system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the condenser is fluidly coupled between the humidifier and the dehumidifier, and 
 the air is conveyable through the condenser from the humidifier to the dehumidifier. 
 
     
     
       15. A method for providing a desalination system, comprising:
 providing an HDH system including a humidifier and a dehumidifier that, together, are configured to process a first saline fluid to produce freshwater in the dehumidifier; 
 providing an AD system including a first bed, a second bed, an evaporator, and a condenser that, together, are configured to process a second saline fluid to produce freshwater in the condenser; and 
 operatively coupling the HDH system and the AD system together such that heat exhausted by the first or second bed is transferrable via the condenser from a first vapor, obtained from the second saline fluid, to the first saline fluid to drive the HDH system. 
 
     
     
       16. A desalination method, comprising:
 processing a first saline fluid via an HDH system to produce freshwater in a dehumidifier of the HDH system; 
 processing a second saline fluid via an AD system to produce freshwater in a condenser of the AD system; 
 transferring, via the condenser, heat exhausted by a first or second bed of the AD system from a vapor, obtained from the second saline fluid, to the first saline fluid to drive the HDH system; and 
 providing a cooling effect to a refrigerant via an evaporator of the AD system. 
 
     
     
       17. The desalination method of  claim 16 , further including transferring, via the evaporator, heat from the first saline fluid to a portion of the second saline fluid in the evaporator before the first saline fluid is conveyed from the evaporator to the dehumidifier. 
     
     
       18. The desalination method of  claim 16 , further including transferring, via the evaporator, heat from an auxiliary fluid to a portion of the second saline fluid in the evaporator before the auxiliary fluid is conveyed from the evaporator to the refrigerant. 
     
     
       19. The desalination method of  claim 18 , further including synchronizing heating and cooling processes of a first bed of the AD system with heating and cooling processes associated with a second bed of the AD system.